Arthur Gugler

Arthur Dale Gugler, 77, of Baker City, died June 27, 2005, at his home.

His graveside funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Arthur was born on Oct. 18, 1927, to Chester William and Mary Olivia Bolen Gugler at Hamilton, Mont. After finishing high school in 1945, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Japan with Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

After returning to Hamilton, he met and married Patricia Burke in 1950. She survives him.

The couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Sally, at Hamilton and then moved to Klamath Falls, where their son, Thomas, joined them in 1953. In 1954, Art received a degree in gunsmithing from Oregon Technical Institute at Klamath Falls and then the family moved to Baker City where Arthur opened a gunsmithing shop. The couple’s last child, Polly, joined the family a short time later.

In Baker City, Arthur worked as a gunsmith, sold boats and motors, then appliances and televisions, and finally, cameras and photography equipment. He also photographed a few weddings.

Arthur was a member of the Elks Lodge for more than 40 years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jaycees and the Grande Ronde Camera Club. He loved to travel, loved photography and loved camping, hunting and making guns.

Upon researching his ancestors in his retirement years, he discovered important links to U.S. history. Henry Gugler, his great-uncle, worked for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. His engravings were used for printing money.

Arthur’s cousin, Eric Gugler, was an architect whose designs were used in the White House. In particular, the Steinway grand piano with gilt American eagle supports designed by him, was given to the White House in 1938 and sits in the East Room to this day. Arthur was especially proud of this history and contribution by his ancestors.

Survivors include his sister, Verna Lee; his children; and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Police/Fire Departments or Community Connection.

Dale Bennett

Dale Bennett, 89, of Baker City died July 2, 2005 at St. Elizabeth Care Center.

A memorial service for Dale and his wife, June, will be scheduled later. Cremation was by Eastern Oregon Pioneer Crematory.

Dale was born on Oct. 8, 1915, in Eagle Valley to Myrton and Opal Bennett. After graduating from Eagle Valley High School at Richland, he joined the U.S. Army and served in North Africa during World War II.

Returning to Eagle Valley, he met and married June Borcher in 1949. The couple moved to the family ranch at Keating where their three children were born. In 1958, they moved to Baker City. Dale worked as a teamster for many years.

Dale was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed exploring the area around Baker City. He took his children fishing almost every weekend. Up into his 80s he walked five miles every day to andquot;inspect what was going on in Baker City.andquot; During his walks he would often stop to help with different projects, in particular the restoration of the Geiser Grand Hotel.

Dale liked to attend the Baker Bulldogs athletic games, particularly volleyball and basketball to support his granddaughter.

He was a current member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Baker Elks Lodge.

His wife, June, died on Dec. 15, 2004.

Survivors include a son, Vance Bennett and his wife, Celeste, and their three sons Beamus, Duncan, and Cooper, all of Winnemucca, Nev.; a daughter, Leslee Bailey, and her husband, William, and their daughter, Nellie, all of Baker City; and a son, Daniel Bennett, and his partner, Steve Rabitoy, of Portland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eastern Oregon Chapter of the American Red Cross through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Edna Whitmore

Edna L. Whitmore, 86, a former Baker City resident, died July 5, 2005, at her son’s home in Hermiston.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hermiston. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City.

Edna was born on Nov. 16, 1918, at Douglas, Wyo., to Glenn and Matilda Disney Hudson. She was raised and attended schools in Wyoming.

After graduating from high school, she and her family moved to Oregon. Edna married Glen M. Whitmore on June 26, 1937, at Weiser, Idaho. They moved to Baker City in 1945.

Edna was a homemaker, raising her children and caring for her husband. She later worked in housekeeping for some adult care centers and the Hereford Motel in Baker City.

She lived in Baker City until 1988 when she moved to Hermiston where she had lived since. Edna was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed quilting, embroidery, reading, gardening and the outdoors.

Survivors include her daughters, Betty Presley of Burns and Liesa Givens of Baker City; sons, Lance Whitmore Sr. of Milton-Freewater, David Whitmore of Baker City, Glenn Whitmore of Burns and Ernie Whitmore of Hermiston; sisters, Violet Brown of Denver, Colo., Evelyn Domingez of Pocatello, Idaho, and Ethel Johnson of Vernal, Utah; 23 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen, in 1970; her parents; three granddaughters; and two infant brothers.

Memorial contributions may be made to Boys Town through Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, OR 97838.

Mary Murphy

Mary Avis Murphy, 88, died June 30, 2005, at her home at Meadowbrook Place in Baker City.

Her memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate.

Mary was born on April 22, 1917, at Trafford, Pa., to John and Edith Morgan Piper. She attended school at Trafford and graduated from high school there.

She married Robert E. Murphy in Washington, D.C., in December 1941. They moved around with the military and settled near Mount Vernon, Va., where their two children were raised.

Robert’s work for United Airlines took them from Virginia to San Jose, Calif., until 1991 when they moved to La Grande. Mary moved to Baker City to be near her daughter in 2004.

Mary worked for the U.S. Postal Service for a while. As an active mother, she worked with the Brownies. She enjoyed arts and crafts, history, her owl collection and lunches and shopping trips with her friends. She loved to travel and especially loved her cats.

Mary was a member of the Presbyterian Church and Order of Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Murphy on Nov. 15, 1997; her parents; and three brothers.

Survivors include her daughter, Cindy Vergari of Baker City; her son, Robert Murphy of Dumfries, Va.; her grandchildren, Peter and Tessa Vergari of Baker City; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Quentin Proctor of Mount Jackson, Va., and Nancy and Paul Woodall of Mesa, Ariz.; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Gray’s West andamp; Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.